Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk scored a late winner to defeat West Ham by 2-1 on Sunday evening which edge Arne Slot side within six points of the Premier League title.
Luis Diaz put Liverpool in front with a deserving goal early of the game but Andy Robertson’s own goal towards the end of first half had given the struggling Hammers a deserved equaliser.
However, Van Dijk restored the lead to show Liverpool’s tenacity and retain the mentality of champions, even if they are running out of steam in the closing stages of the season.
Liverpool lead over the second place Arsenal stretches to 13 points with six games to go.
A record-equalling 20th English top-flight title for Liverpool could come as early as next Sunday if they defeat Leicester and their closest rivals Arsenal lose away to Ipswich.
The stage was set before kick-off to celebrate Mohamed Salah as the Liverpool hero after the Egyptian was signed a new two-year contract at Anfield which put an end to speculation over his future.
Salah started on a high side with the aim of making sure he was the focus of attention as young left-back Ollie Scarles struggled to cope with the tenacity of Premier League’s top scorer.
The Egyptian has failed to score in seven of his last eight Liverpool games as his sensational early season form has failed off.
But Salah still managed to set a new Premier League record with an assist to Luis Diaz that makes him registered his 45th goal or assist of the campaign, the most ever in a single 38-game season.
He outmuscled Scarles on the touchline and sprinted clear before an inch-perfect cross for Diaz allowed the Colombian to tap in for his 15th goal of the season on 18 minutes.
This defeat to Hammers slip them to 17th in the Premier League table, but they had a series of chances to take at least a point.
